aaargh...sorry Jamoni, I've had another look and it doesn't read as I intended. Damn this internet thing. My apologies, no insult was intended.

Now, to illustrate the point let me give you an example. A row of bobbies stood alongside a picket line, all quite nice and friendly, when someone in the crowd grabs one bobbys hat from his head, for a joke. As it gets passed around the bobby reaches forward to take it back. All the time the videos are rolling.

Later the dispute gets a bit naughty and some arrests are made. The media howl with indignation at the heavy handed police tactics, and to illustrate the point a still from one video appears in the press, showing a bobby apparently lunging into the crowd and planting someone. Now, we know that bobby was getting his hat back, but that can't be seen from the angle of the still. No doubt if the whole video is watched it becomes apparent, but who's going to see it?

It's all good, Cato. I only noticed the smiley in your post AFTER I responded. I wonder how many "jokes" have led to international incidents due to poor translation? HEHEHESort of shows why Dojo etiquette is so important.

Cato, is the whole "media distortion hype" thing big in the UK as it is here in the States ? Just curious. The whole incident that you mentioned sounds like a potential public relations nightmare. Also, do all boobies carry firearms or just officer assigned to special details, etc ? Thanks and Peace, Ashton

I think it is good that the police are hounded by the press. Sure, it makes your job harder. Example: During Mardi Gras several years ago, the St. Louis Po-po got gestapo on the partiers. They beat them up, maced them, and in general had a field day hurting drunks. I was IN a friends house. We opened the door to see what was up, and got maced. Then the cop LEANED INTO THE HOUSE AND MACED EVERYONE ELSE. We got maced in a private home for opening the door. Needless to say the media ripped the balls off of the police chief, AND THAT WAS A GOOD THING. No offense meant to any cops, but EVERYONE needs to be held accountable for their actions, because everyone is capable of negligence, brutality, or just plain stupidity. This of course, includes the press.

You are of course quite right, everybody needs to be accountable. The question is: Is the media an appropriate body to provide the evidence for that accountability?

The biggest problem over here seems to be that trial by media is becoming common place, and the media often have their own agenda. In no way could the British press be said to be unbais, always accurate or even always truthfull.